Perturbation-Based Balance Training

Original Editor - Kevin Campion Top Contributors - Lucinda hampton, Kim Jackson, Rachael Lowe, Jonathan Wong, Lauren Lopez, Kevin Campion and Aminat Abolade

Introduction

Perturbation-based balance training is an intervention involving repeated postural perturbations aiming to improve control of rapid balance reactions. Balance boards are often incorporated in perturbation based balance training.

Clinical Application

A recent systematic review found that this form of training helped to reduce risk of falling in elderly adults and those with Parkinsons disease.

Perturbation/balance exercises have been shown to be well tolerated by Osteoarthritis (OA) knee clients and were also associated with improved pain, function, and balance. Also has been show in studies on knee OA populations that the additive positive effects of kinesthesia and balance exercises increase their functional capacities.

Ankle instability is also another area perturbation exercises help. Once pain-free range of motion and weight bearing have been established, balance-training exercises should be incorporated in ankle instability/acute sprain to normalise neuromuscular control. A 2018 systematic review on bracing and balance training on rate of ankle sprains concluded that moderate quality evidence for balance training to decrease the incidence and reduce the relative risk of ankle sprains in competitive athletes.

Examples

Some examples of these techniques are shown in video below

Other examples are outlined below

Double-Leg Foam Balance Activity: Subject stands on a soft foam surface with both feet on the ground. Therapist attempts to perturb patient balance in random fashion.

Exercise dosage/progression: The duration of the activity is approximately 30 seconds.The difficulty is progressed as the subject improves by progressing to ball catching with therapist perturbing subject’s balance while standing on foam and progressing to single-leg support if tolerated without knee pain, swelling, or buckling.

Tilt board Balance Training: The subject stands on a tilt board or balance board with both feet on the board. The therapist perturbs the tilt board in forward and backward and side-to-side directions for approximately 30 seconds each.

Exercise dosage/progression: The difficulty of the activity is progressed by adding ball catching during the perturbations and progressing to single-limb support perturbations if the subject tolerates single-limb weight bearing without knee pain, swelling, or buckling.

Roller board and Platform Perturbations: The subject stands with one limb on a stationary platform and the other limb on a roller board. Therapist perturbs roller board in multiple directions, at random, and the subject attempts to resist the perturbations. The activity lasts approximately 30 seconds. The activity is repeated by changing the limbs on the platform and the roller board.

Exercise dosage/progression: The activity may begin with subject in the semi-seated position, with hips resting on plinth if the subject has difficulty doing the activity in full standing. The activity is progressed to the full standing position when the subject is able to tolerate this position without pain.

The video below shows use of perturbation activities for ankle instability